A small minority population at Homestead High School demanded that they heard and a student wearing blackface posted on social media, which led to complaints from indifferent administrators and teachers. Taunts of “where do you come from?” And slurs were uttered in the hallways – WANE (Ind. WAYNE, FORT).
After a photo of blackface appeared on social media, their peers felt outrage and they felt the need to address the issue. The morning assembly on Thursday provided an opportunity for them to express their concerns. WANE 15 informed the students about the situation.
Senior Aaliyah Griggs states that it is a component of a tradition that has been ongoing for years.
Griggs stated outside the secondary school right after a lockout was proclaimed by administrators, “We youngsters simply desire to experience ease in this educational institution. There’s no justification that us marginalized students should not experience ease attending school.” One post circulating on social media displays a physical confrontation that allegedly erupted at the conclusion of the gathering.
Griggs and three young gentlemen, who are awaiting consent from their parents, divulged their thoughts on the racial issues at the high school to WANE 15.
Griggs said, “We white kids tend to feel favored at school because it is predominantly white. It’s a good school.” Let’s not overlook this fact and simply brush it off. Instead, let’s bring attention to it, just like we did today when we spoke up for ourselves. Before we make it an outrage, let’s bring attention to things that matter to us.”
The culture influences education, Griggs stated.
‘We’re always on our tippy toes’
Griggs mentioned, “I believe there are only four African-American teachers and administrators in our school, and it feels like we only hear their voices. We should definitely strive for more diversity in our administration and staff, at least ten times more. Some of our teachers make us feel uncomfortable, even. We always feel like we can’t do anything because they are always watching our every move. We are constantly on edge.”
“I am aware that people have made derogatory remarks in a low voice, and even during today’s meeting, they used the expression ‘big Black girls,'” reported Griggs. She further explained that nobody expressed disapproval of such language, highlighting the fact that slurs are frequently whispered.
In the past, there have been outbreaks on social media where we have said derogatory things, but we feel that it is almost finished and there is nothing like it.
Griggs stated, “It is obvious that we need to teach people about this, and it is necessary for us to bring this back into the school, that it is okay for all nationalities and we need to teach them.”
Griggs stated that having a diverse school is preferable because it “brings a multitude of benefits to the educational institution.”
Four years ago, Griggs was anxious about going to Homestead because she wasn’t certain how she would be perceived,” she mentioned.
“What needs to be accomplished?” Griggs asked at the conclusion of the meeting, as individuals passed around notebooks and gathered suggestions.
Griggs, the principal, declared that Susan Summers, stated that the educational institution would commence incorporating additional details regarding Black Lives Matter, and there would be diverse materials displayed on the walls, such as posters, acknowledging Black History Month. Griggs emphasized, “We have made significant progress, and it is imperative to celebrate the achievements of the Black community, as there is still much work to be done.”
Some educators recognize the significance of Black history, while the majority of them specialize in teaching social studies or history, she noted.
“All the paintings on the wall are white people. There’s no inclusivity, no Black people, no Indian, no Asian, it’s not inclusive.”.
It almost feels like we’re trapped, like we’re the outcasts of it.
Griggs believes the issue is escalating as the African American community expands at the educational institution.
COMING UP: Three young men share their stories about their time at Homestead High School.
According to 15 WANE, the fighting between two girls started in an escalated manner, leading to a riotous assembly. The school was put under lockout after the incident, and three friends were caught up in the fight.
The junior stated, “We decided to protest because the school wasn’t willing to do anything about the outrage referring to that social media post.” They started bringing us down. We were people who weren’t part of the civil unrest and we were peacefully protesting.
Instead, the altercations were intervened by students and school security personnel, which left the junior surprised that the teachers did not attempt to intervene at Homestead where fights seldom happen.
“It was the most terrible thing I’ve ever witnessed here,” he stated.
The sophomore mentioned the history of trouble at school regarding minorities, specifically referring to black individuals, by stating, “Instead of telling them to go back to their own country, even though they are transferred here from another county, we should not hate people. We don’t like you.”
The privileged also “make presumptions about individuals who reside in flats,” the second-year student expressed.
I have observed white individuals who have grown up with a certain privilege that has led them to believe they are entitled to behave in a certain way towards minorities.
‘What I saw today. It hurt’
He said, “I experienced pain today when I witnessed something. Do you feel that you are not treated in a deserved manner? Are there many different ways in which you belong here? How you are treated and the effort you have put in to get there is commendable, but I am usually told that some people would be willing to die for what you have. His parents said they are usually glad to hear that you are grateful for what you have achieved as a freshman.”
“As a means to avoid attending class,” he mentioned that some students utilized the assembly. According to the sophomore, “She believed it was trendy to repeat it,” one of the girls used a derogatory term. The altercation that ensued during the assembly involved two girls.
“If it’s a white child, they won’t face any consequences. Similar to an out-of-school suspension, we face consequences if it involves two African American children. We might engage in playful fighting in the corridors. We’re simply adolescents. It’s unacceptable, that’s the bottom line. The public deserves to be aware of what transpired here, and yet I face repercussions for it, whereas he has been wrongfully accused,” expressed the second-year student.
The second-year student stated that the young lady who uttered the “n” term was escorted out of the educational institution, but did not face any consequences for her usage of the word, serving as an illustration.
“Unfairness anywhere poses a danger to fairness everywhere,” expressed the first-year student while quoting Martin Luther King, Jr.
“All administrators believed that there could be someone outside with a weapon because there was a lockout at the school on Thursday.”
SACS parent speaks out: ‘it’s not a Homestead issue, it’s a Southwest Allen County Schools issue’
Nasim Khan, a SACS parent since 2016, stated that following the 2016 election, her eldest son received the news that he would be deported, and her children of mixed race have endured verbal abuse and faced ongoing challenges.
Khan, who was present at the press briefing on Thursday, stated, “A collective effort will be required to execute initiatives and remedies. Moreover, parents have made endeavors to accomplish tasks. This is an ongoing matter that has persisted for several years. It is not a recent development.”
She expressed, “There exists a cultural apathy in Southwest Allen County Schools. Separation still persists in Southwest Allen County Schools.” Despite her belief in the occurrence of events for a purpose, and the possibility that the recent incident that caused widespread anger might catch the attention of those who must reform the system, “it extends beyond just this particular circumstance.”
When Khan phoned the office, a school official not only mentioned that she witnessed him entering with a meal, but also observed him consuming his lunch. Her most recent issue with SACS occurred when her teenage son, who attends middle school, was assigned lunch detention and was instructed to eat his meal in a school administrative area. Distressed, he called his mother to express his frustration about not being able to eat.
However, when the principal checked the cameras at Woodside Middle School, there was no evidence that he ate his lunch, Khan said.
Khan stated, “People really need to take this seriously. It is something we didn’t anticipate happening. We’re just going to put all our efforts into dealing with it.”
She believes that a cultural shift will occur with the implementation of referendums, fresh policies, and an external entity that can serve as an arbiter or mediator in situations involving racial or discriminatory matters.
Khan expressed, “This is not solely a Homestead matter. It pertains to the entire Southwest Allen County.” He emphasized that these challenges significantly impact a student’s psychological well-being and stated, “We require a team of individuals who are not employed by Southwest Allen County Schools to assist these children in successfully overcoming any predicament they may be facing.”